Means for stowage of vessels



May 9, 1961 G. M. CROSS MEANS FOR STOWAGE OF VESSELS Filed Jan. 29, 1959 IN VE N TOR I 3 in cross-sec test we? a s Patent 2,983,388 MEANS FOR srowAoE 0F VESSELS Grosvenor M. Cross, New York, NY.

(350 Main St., West Concord, Mass.)

Filed Jan. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 789,987 4 Claims. Cl. 211-78) The present invention is an improved form of that described in my ec-pending application, Serial No.

767,922, filed October 17, 1958; as in the former embodiment, the present provides means for stowing a plurality of progressively-sized vessels generally within one another in an assemblage so arranged that any one of the vessels may be removed from'the assemblage, 'or be returned thereto, without causing any other of the vessels to be dislodged from its general position'therein. The motion of removal or replacement is, as in the former ease, generally rotativei In the present embodiment of the invention, however, the vessel undergoing removal from, or replacement in, the assemblage may be wholly guidedduring a part of its motion by constantwith an adjacent vessel, or by contact with two of the same, when such a vessel or vessels are in place in the assemblage; means being provided to prevent such adjacent vessel 'or vessels from dislodgment by their contact with the vessel undergoing removal or replacement. A reduction in size of the device is thus accomplished, together with a corresponding reduction in cost. Moreover, a large part of the path of the moving vessel is now bounded onlyby the-surfaces of other vessels, the guiding structures formerly interposed between the vessels being largely omitted; so that maximum space is now available for the-removal or replacement-of'any vessel, A much.

greater variety of sizes and geometricaljproportionsof vessels may thus be accommodated within a :device of 7 given proportions. Furthermore, vesselsin the present embodiment may rest somewhat backward or forward from exactalignment, and still maintain a good appearance, since the guide rings used in the former embodi inent do mot now appear-betweenthe .faces of the 1 vessels. "Ihe present invention thus provides, a more practical device and'one of morenea'rly universa1"appli'cability. J

g "In the drawings an illustrative' device is revealed,'em-- bodying in its structure-those principal characteristics of J theinvention which it is desired to claim as novel;and

protect by Letters Patent, Forfconvenience the device sh'own will be ealled the receiver, andthevessels assembledthereimthe bowls. -Illu'stratively, three bowls are 'shovvn,"although it is apparent that the receiver-may be -constructedto accommodate 'a "number greater-for less.- t-han -three. The smallest "vessel illustrated will be. ;de]

nominated bowl'l; the 1ntermediate, -'bowl' 2;:th rgest,

"g, I'Qis aside-elevation ofl the righfside of there- 'nlouiitedfat theleftj'of theidrawing, andf'thefdirecti n of removal of the vessels to the right; Within the receiver *are 'shown bowl 1'in;full viewtogether withjbowlsz and cerver; that is, as seen 'with tlie wall on wliihfit.maybe tionLqAmoved position of bowl 'Zf'is also 7 7' point' somewhat a ove the point 1 v ,thus ,l'eavingf between these two, bars an .open; Ycurved- 1 passage, Somewhat before terminating; 'between -b ars 1 Step :25 sl'ofsuflicientsize effectively oarres't the fOf bOW l 7 2 drawing the three bowls are also shown in front elevation, the latter being revealed :in half-view only, their leftsides cut away to show the structure of the receiver.

Fig. 3 is a planview of the receiver from above.

7 The nested position of bowls 1, 2 and 3, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of my co-pending application, and described therein.

In the accompanying Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the receiver is shown as consisting of members of formed wire joined by spot-welding or other suitable means. The receiver will be described as in its operative'position. The back bar 4, horizontal when the receiver is in operative position, is adapted to lie along a supporting wall or other vertical surface, and is formed at its opposite extremities into thetwo loops 5 and 6, which are adapted to receive appropriate screws for attaching the receiver to such wall or surface. Adjacent to loops 5 and 6, vertical bars 7 and 8 are fixed, their bottom portions adapted to rest against the wall or other surface and thus assist in supporting the receiver, From the bottom ends of bars 7 and 8 respectively, the two bottom bars '11 and 12 extend away from the plane of the supporting wall; bars 11 and 12 lie substantially parallel to each other and in a substantially horizontal plane. The front of the receiver lies generally in a terminal plane approximately parallel to the plane of the supporting wall or surface. Bottombars 11 and 12 terminate in the terminal plane, curving toward each other as they approach it, and finally nearly touchingj They then connect to bars 13 and 14 respectively, which rise vertically, parallel to each other, and in the terminal plane, but separated by a thickness of rod later to be described.

From the tops'of vertical bars 7 and 8, support bars 15 and 16 respectively extend forwardly away fromthe plane of the supporting wall. Bars 15 and 16 are curved somewhat awayfrom eachother in order to accommodate bowl 3 between them. Bars 15 and 16.tenninate at the two ends of transverse .bar, 17, whichextends generally-horizontally across the-face of the receiver, generally in the forward terminal plane.v Vertica'lbars 13 and '14, already described, terminate in bar 17, being bent somewhat away from each other-as they approach the latter, in order .toigiveiijt 'finn support.

In a plane'approximately.-.hori2ontal, and extending generally toward'the supporting wall from bar.17, are shown the two substantially semicircular wire rings 23 jand 24. -Rin'gs 23 and [24 are illustrated 52S approximatelyconcentric, there'being spaceenoi'igh between '27 and 28, through which bar- 17 isshown as passing;- .ring 24 similarly terminates in loops' 31 and 32, around bar 17. Loops 27, 28, 31 and 32;are s1ida'ble on bar 17. At approximately, their .midpointsrings '23 and24 are joined to'rest bars 18. and'2 1 r'espectively; rest bars. 18 "and 21 each curve=,downwardlyij'and outwardly toward the, forward terminal plane of the receiver, where they.

fare finally aflixeiiby welding or other means, between 5 a Ls'wagi'ng peratibn, into the gsharpfli ownward tep.

1 :35 shown in 1' Fig. 1'.

,whre J'bar :21 terminates;

2 as generally similar to that of rest bars 18 and 21, is shown as lying in the same general vertical plane as the latter two, but spaced away from rest bar 21 to leave between itself and bar 21. a curved space similar to thatbetween bars 18 and 21. Rest bar 22 is shown as supported. at one end at the midpoint of back bar 4, and at its other between bars 13 and 14 at a point somewhat below the attachment point of rest bar 21. No step is shown in rest bar 22.

An escutcheon 33, largely for decorative purposes, is shown as placed over the general area of junction of bars 13 and 14 with'bar 17; it 'lies generally in the forward terminal plane of the receiver.

In the present invention bar 17 corresponds approximately to bar 41 of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of my copending application; during the withdrawal of a bowl, rings 23 and 24 perform the same functions as rings 43 and 42 of the copending application, and but through a limited portion of that withdrawal only, their function then being taken over by the walls of the adjacent bowls; similarly "rest bars 18 and 21 are all that remain functionally of the meridian semicircules 45 and 46 of the copending application. Steps 25 and 26 have no structural precedent in the earlier form of the invention, although indirectly they serve the same purpose as the vertical or upper portions ofrings 42 and 43 and semicircles 45 and 46 of the copending application, since, together with the walls of the vessels themselves, they act to prevent :unwanted dislodgement of vessels of the assembly.

From the above description and the accompanying drawings it is apparent that ring 23, rest bar 18, transverse bar 17 and vertical bars '13 and 14 constitute a form of receptacle or skeleton socket adapted to support bowl 1 at rest in the assemblage. Similarly, ring 24, 'rest bar 21, transverse bar '17 and vertical bars 13 and 14 form a receptacle supporting bowl 2.

When no other bowls are in place in the assemblage, any given bowl, slid over the horizontal plane of rings 23 and 24, will obviously be able to slip only into its 'own respective position; bowl 1 will fall within ring 18, but will be prevented from falling outside the same by its smaller diameter; bowl 2 cannot fall inside ring 23 because its diameter is larger than that of the latter, or outside ring 24 for the obverse reason, but must fall between rings 23 and 24; and similarly it is clear that bowl 3 can only fall into itsproper place outside ring 24. Any bowl. thus placed in its respective opening in the horizontal plane of rings '23 and 24may then be turned downwardly by a rotative movement similar to that do scribed in my copending application, until it comes to 'rest in its "final position as shown in the accompanying Fig. l; l

With other bowls in position, bowl 2 must enter the assemblage around bowl 1 and within bowl 3. It is apparent that these or similar conditions are the worst which any bowl can'encounter on removal .or replace- 'ment, no matter how many bowls may be included in the assemblage; hence a description of the movements of bowl 2 may be considered as typical of allbowls during removal'or replacement. I t

Bowl 2 is first made to enter the assemblage by introducing its rim in the space between the rimsof bowls 1 and 3, the orientation of bowl 2 being in general opposite to that of bowls 1 and 3; this movement'is exactly similar to that employed on entering the bowl inftlie .cas'eof my copending application; except that in the present case {fa wider. space'is'available, owing to the absence of rings 142 and'43 of the'earlier device. Bowl, 2 ,is then turned on inwardly, passing through the position-indicated by *the broken lines 2A in Fig. 1. Since its motion is inward, any frictional contact with bowls'i'l or 3 will only tend to seat time more firmly in' their positions of rest. If, whilepassing through some suchpositions' asthat shown 'at 2 A, bowl 2 isfpulledj'outwardly into eontactlwitltbowl "1,-"the"topof thela tterwill be pulledoutwardly,displacing the bowl slightly rotatively until the rim at the bottom is arresed against step 25; step 25 and bar 17 will then cooperate to hold bowl 1 from further movement. Bowl 2 will then be pushed further into place, rotatively; its rim will pass between rings 23 and 24; the rim and the body of the bowl are thenceforth guided by rest bars 18 .and 21, which separate it from any contact with bowls 1 or 3 which might tend to dislodge the latter. Finally, the rim of bowl 2 drops into place beyond step 26, and the bowl is at rest.

To remove bowl 2 from the assemblage it is necessary first to lift it slightly, simultaneously pulling it outwardly at its upper edge. This motion (made easy by the rings usually attached to these bowls, not shown in the drawings) frees the rim of the bowl from step 26, and allows the bowl its required rotative motion in the direction of removaL. During thefirst portion of this motion, while the rim of bowl 2 still lies in the space limited by rest bars 18 and 21, contact of bowl 2 with either bowl 1 or bowl 3' is prevented by the rest bars, so that the latter two bowls are unaffected by the movement ofthe former.

As the rotative movement of withdrawal of bowl 2 continues until it is nolonger restricted by rest bars18 and 21, it becomes possible either to lift it upwardly until it comes into contact with bowl 3, or to draw it outwardly against bowl 1. It has been found thatthe lifting motion necessary to produce contact between bowls 2 and 3 is not a natural one during withdrawal, and will rarely be made. However, should bowl 2 be so raised, contact is'made with the inside of bowl 3 usually at or near its outer rim; the lifting force at this point forms a couple with the weight of the bowl, as concentrated at its center of gravity, which is stronger than, and opposed to, the dislodging couple constituted by the friction of the outward-moving bowl 2 against the polished inner face of bowl 3, and the friction between the face of bar 17 and the rim of that bowl. There is thus normally .no tendency for a bowl to be dislodged during the removal of that bowl whichis nested within it. p

During the removal of bowl 2, however, it will fro.- quentlybe drawn firmly against bowl 1 within it, after the rim of bowl 2 has passed outside the zone whereit is guided by rest bar '18. The result of such contact is the delivery of various forces to bowl 1, varyingwith the position of bowl 2 relative thereto. It is possible to .deliver a force directly outwardly (horizontally,. ,in iFig. fl) against the:botto m of bowl 1; sueh ;,a force, against and above bar '17, produces a dislodging couple which rotates bowl 1 slightly until its rim isarrestedby step, 25; at this point an equal and opposite couple is 1 as' described above, an additional upward'frictional force is communicated to bowl'1; this force is, however,

at-..least balanced by a corresponding downward. frictional. force between the rim of the bowl and bar.17, .thus producing a further couple, which is in turn opposed .by a slightly increased couple between step 25; and bar 17. Dislodgingand opposing forces are thus in equilibriium, and theweight of bowl 1 maintains it in position, withoht any dislodgement resultingfrom: the .outward movement of bowl 2. As bowl 2 proceeds in the course of its removal, the force against bowl ,1 is'delivered more and. more downwardly, as can be seen by reference to r V Fig; l, where one such position is shown by the broken lines ZAQfHere the contactis against the spherical. surface of bowl '1, and is thus delivered sharply downward- 'and increasing the stability of its position.

ly, thus forcing bowl 1 even more firmly, intoitsscat;

,Bowl 1.. is removedsimply by clear vst i=.p.,2 5, fand then turning it out, Bowl 3,- in the receiver shown, is simply turned ,out, bowl 2 i ama n ig in p s nv by st 2. nst rs sj sorrespondingt'o those whichhave been described aspreventar y ing the dislodgment of bowl 1 during the extraction of bowl 2. If the receiver were designed to contain a fourth bowl outside bowl 3, a step corresponding to steps 25 and 26 would of course have to be provided in rest bar 22, to maintain bowl 3 in position while the outer bowl was undergoing removal.

As in the structures revealed in my co-pending application, the present invention provides means which normally are adapted to prevent the withdrawal of the given vessel from, or its placement into, its respective position in the receiver from causing the dislodgment, from its respective general position therein, of any other of the vessels 2 which may be contained in the receiver at the time of such withdrawal or placement. The word normally as used above and in the claims refers to the ordinary conditions of use for which a specific receiver may be designated; for example, a receiver designed for the stowage of domestic vessels, from which one of such vessels will ordinarily be removed by natural manual movements with no deliberate effort at dislodging the remaining vessels, and which is adequate to maintain those remaining vessels in their respective positions under such conditions, may be inadequate so to retain them if excessive, vibratory or impulsive forces are communicated to the vessel being withdrawn or to the receiver in a deliberate efiort to dislodge the remaining vessels; in such a case the remaining vessels would be said to be normally retained in their respective positions during such a withdrawal of any one vessel.

Although loops 27 and 28 are slidable on bar 17 in order to adapt to slight veriations in bowl dimensions, this motion is limited, due to the stiffness of rings 23 and 24, so that the position of rings 23 and 24 may be regarded as generally fixed. All parts of the device are thus joined into a unitary structure, whose elements bear to each other a generally fixed relationship in position and orientation; the word unitary is used in the claims which follow as descriptive of this condition.

The device as shown may be mounted on a vertical surface as by screws through loops 5 and 6, or it may rest on a flat horizontal surface, on which it is supported by the bars 11 and 12 which lie as described in a horizontal plane when the device is in operative position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An assemblageof vessels similar in form but of progressive sizes, each of said vessels comprising generally a closed container terminating in an open face and a rim, said rim projecting laterally from the side wall of said container; a frame or receiver adapted to support said assemblage of vessels; said frame or receiver comprising a plurality of supporting elements each of which lies below and is adapted to support one of said vessels in said assemblage; and a recess or step formed in one of said supporting elements and adapted to receive the rim of that vessel which is supported by said element when said ves- 6 sel is in its stowed position; said supporting elements being so disposed as to permit said supported vessel to be lifted sufiiciently to free said rim from said recess or step.

2. An assemblage of nested vessels having body and face elements; a unitary frame or receiver adapted to stow said assemblage with said face elements of said vessels generally in the same vertical plane; said frame or receiver comprising meridian elements lying substantially in a vertical plane perpendicular to said vertical plane containing said face elements of said vessels, each of said meridian elements lying generally below and being adapted to support one of said vessels; said frame or receiver also comprising isolating elements lying in an approximately horizontal plane intersecting said assemblage of vessels, and situated each generally between the two traces of the intersections of said approximately horizontal plane with a pair of adjacent vessels.

3. An inner and an outer vessel in a nested assemblage, together with a unitary frame or receiver adapted to stow said vessels in said assemblage; said frame or receiver comprising, in combination, means arranged generally below each of said vessels adapted to support said vessel stably in its respective position when stowed in said assemblage, guiding means including a curved element lying between said vessels adapted to guide said outer vessel away from its position generally around said inner vessel in said assemblage through a first part of a generally curved path or zone, separating means interposed between said vessels adapted to maintain them out of contact while said outer vessel is moving in said first part of said path or zone, together with restraining means engaging said inner vessel, and opposing the tendency of said inner vessel to be dislodged from its respective position in said assemblage by contact with said outer vessel when said outer vessel continues its movement away from its nested position, beyond said first part of said curved path or zone.

4. A set of nested vessels comprised of body and face elements, a unitary receiver adapted to support said vessels and comprised of mounting elements adapted to rest stably against a plane surface, supporting elements including components lying generally below each member of said set of nested vessels, a generally horizontal element crossing in proximity to the faces of said vessels when nested, receptacle elements shaped each to contain one of said vessels with the plane of its face generally vertically disposed, one or more of said receptacle elements including a generally circular component slidably fixed at its two ends to said horizontal member and aflixed at an in termediate point to one of said components of said supporting elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,596,312 Von Mertens May 13, 1952 

